Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-06-09
THE REUNION.
Doings Of the Veteran Soldiers
at Shullsburg.


The eighth annual reunion of the
Southwestern Wisconsin Veteran Asso-
citation was in every respect a success.
Fully eight thousand soldiers were pres
ent. Grant county contributed her
share and all returned with pleasant
recolleetions of the way in which they
were entertained by the good people of
Shullsburg. The city was profusely
decorated. Bunting and flags were dis
played from every house and flowers
and evergreens adorned many build
ings.
Wednesday, June /, the first day was
ushered in by the firing of a salute of
thirteen guns. During the day the
trains brought in veterans from every
section of the state. The guests were
received by a committee of the citizens,
and made to feel that the town was
theirs for entertainment during the re-
union. Ample preparations had bsen
made for both food and lodging for all
who came. Meals were furnished free,
and the thought of making money out
of their guests seemed to be absent from
the minds of all.
In the evening the veterans assembled
around campfire where addresses
were made by Capt. C. II. Baxter, the
president of the association, Gov. Rusk,
Phil. Cheek, Judge Spensley of Galena,
and others. Songs were sung by +. 0.
Kimberly, author of "Sherman's March
to the Sea-" and Miss Daisy Force, the
child of the Iron Brigade. Besides Gov.
Rusk and staff, State Treasurer Har-
shaw, Acknowledgement Estabrook, In.
surance-Commissioner Check and other
state officers were present.
The second day was ushered in with
the firing of thirty-eight guns. AT an
early hour trains loaded with visitors
came pouring in from surrounding
towns. Hundreds came on foot, on
horseback and by teams, asd long be-
fore the hour appointed for carrying
out the program of the day at least
5000 people had assembled. The Oar
lington Rifles and Monroe Guards
marched through the principal streets.
The procession was reviewed from the
balcony of the Brewster House by Gov.
Rusk and the state officers. After The
review the procession marched to the
ST. Matthew's church grounds. where
DR. G. G. Gratiot introduced the presi-
dent of the association, and the follow
ing address was delivered by
CAPT. c. II. BAXTER:
Comrades and F'ellow Citizens:
For the past year have looked for
ward with bright hopes and pleasant
anticipations to this day and this occa-
sion. Fancy has frequently pictured
the scenes witness, and as look again
into your faces and feel once more the
friendly grasp of the hand, and attempt
to realize in some faint degree the sig
nilicance and meaning of this cordial
reception on the part OF this people, |
feel that my hopes and expectations
are realized and that our Reunion at
Shullsburg is success:
Comrades, it seems to me as time
rolls on, and we are further removed
from the war, as if the bond of friend
ship between us grew stronger, and
that the esteem aud regard of our fell
low citizens becomes more profound.
That sentiment and feeling that finds
expression here to-day, so full, SO free
and so grateful to our hearts, is not
simply local in its character; a plant
of Wisconsin growth or origin. but is
becoming rapidly national,-as broad
as our domain, as deep and strong and
true as our national heart.
Wherever the soldier goes to-day,
North or South, East or West, he is
hailed as the savior of his country.
Garlands are strewn in his pathway.
and the people rise up and call him
blessed. Whenever we have met recent
lyin reunion or encampment such loyal
feelings have found expression. Last
year we met on the shores of the Pacific,
in that imperial city by the Golden
Gate. The veterans came, representing
every Stale and Territory OF our broad
land from the piney woods of Maine,
the everglades and orange groves Of
Florida, the coal regions of Pennsylva-
MA and Ohio, the middle States. the
corn-fieds of Illinois and Iowa and Ne
brsska, our own Wisconsin, and the
States and Territories of the great
Northwest. They left their work
at the pillow, at the anvil, and desk, as
they did in '61, that they might re-
new the friendships Of The march, the
bivouac, aud the field of battle. Their
route for three thousand miles across
the continent, from the sunrise TO the
sunset, was one grand ovation. Towns
cities and villages We'd with each other
to do us honor. AT last as we entered
that great city of San francisco. Of
marvellous growth and prodigious
wealth. where the civilization Of the
Occident and the Orient meet, it
seemed as if the people OF the whole
Pacific coast had assembled to bid us
welcome. A hundred thousand ban
ners streamed from spire and house,
top, alike from the hovcl Of the poor to
the palace Of the rich Public and pri-